The recent news of Cyclone Mahasen marked the beginning of the 2013 Monsoon season in Myanmar. The storm threatened to sweep across Rakhine State, bringing strong winds, heavy rains and potentially life threatening storms to the many vulnerable communities dotted along this stretch of coastline.

“Cyclone Mahasen was the first real test of this year storm season” said U Maung Maung Khin, Head of Disaster Management Division at Myanmar Red Cross Society.

As tropical storm Mahasen continues to make its way over the Bay of Bengal, hundreds of Myanmar Red Cross volunteers are working tirelessly to help evacuate people from vulnerable coastal areas in Rakhine State.

Reports suggest the effects of the storm will be felt in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

“We know from our experience in Cyclone Giri in 2010 that families living in these coastal areas and small islands will bear the brunt of this storm” said U Maung Maung Khin, Head of Division (Disaster Management) from Myanmar Red Cross Society.